diabetescarelive.info

The type 2 diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitazone) will remain on the market. However, it will probably carry the FDA's strongest "black box" warning label.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration committee of advisers voted 22-1 to leave the drug on the market but also voted 20-3 that the evidence shows the drug causes increased risks of heart attacks.

This means the Glaxosmithkline drug will probably generate far less sales than predicted. The drug accounted for over $3 billion in revenue in 2006.

Many physicians have switched their patients to other drugs and are unlikely to switch them back. Sales of Avandia are expected to recover to only 10-15% of previous levels.  

Drugs being used to replace Avandia include:

• Actos -Eli Lilly
• Januvia - Merck & Co. Inc.

News of the FDA safety alert for Avandia has resulted in a decline of over $25 billion in the market value of Glaxosmithkline.